Last week we talked about the difference between happiness and joy. I suggested that joy has a more divine origin. Joy expresses the peace you feel when you understand the infinite you: that part of you that is divine. Of course, the Five Words is about getting through extreme emotions in the search for joy. So, what are extreme emotions?
Extreme emotions, the really big ones, are: fear, grief, worry, shock, and anger. All of the other emotions we have are some variation on these five principal ones. In other words, frustration is anger, depression is anger turned inward. Emotions running wild are what block your understanding of how to be full of joy. That being said, it is important to understand that all emotions are sourced in love, the great creative life force that is God.
Love is not an extreme emotion; it is the original state of being. It is the impulse of creation. Gradually, as love expressed into light and shadow, yin and yang, all of creation came into being, as did the whole range of emotion. In God there is only love, all light and shadow is the love of God expressing and teaching. There is no intention from God for the soul to experience suffering. On earth, however, we have stepped beyond the understanding of what is true. Instead we struggle with what we have created from what is true and suffering happens. Free will allows us to manipulate this beautiful creation and we do not always act in love. We have created the energies that compromise Eden. Our work on the planet is to bring those energies back into balance, back to that original state of being: love.
Yes, it’s a tall order. We give a lot of energy in our lives to that which we believe will bring us joy when, in fact, the results of that energy expenditure may not even bring us happiness. Where are you putting you energy? Is this expenditure of energy bringing you closer to joy? Does it bring you lasting happiness? What else could be done?
Let’s talk about it.
Katherine
Extreme emotions, the really big ones, are: fear, grief, worry, shock, and anger. All of the other emotions we have are some variation on these five principal ones. In other words, frustration is anger, depression is anger turned inward. Emotions running wild are what block your understanding of how to be full of joy. That being said, it is important to understand that all emotions are sourced in love, the great creative life force that is God.
Love is not an extreme emotion; it is the original state of being. It is the impulse of creation. Gradually, as love expressed into light and shadow, yin and yang, all of creation came into being, as did the whole range of emotion. In God there is only love, all light and shadow is the love of God expressing and teaching. There is no intention from God for the soul to experience suffering. On earth, however, we have stepped beyond the understanding of what is true. Instead we struggle with what we have created from what is true and suffering happens. Free will allows us to manipulate this beautiful creation and we do not always act in love. We have created the energies that compromise Eden. Our work on the planet is to bring those energies back into balance, back to that original state of being: love.
Yes, it’s a tall order. We give a lot of energy in our lives to that which we believe will bring us joy when, in fact, the results of that energy expenditure may not even bring us happiness. Where are you putting you energy? Is this expenditure of energy bringing you closer to joy? Does it bring you lasting happiness? What else could be done?
Let’s talk about it.
Katherine